Nurses’ Weight Bias in Caring for Obese Patients: Do Weight Controllability Beliefs Influence the Provision of Care to Obese Patients?

Abstract

Given the pervasive stigma faced by obese individuals in family, work, and health care settings, the present study aimed to explore whether nurses’ weight controllability beliefs influence their perception of how care is provided to obese patients. To this end, 73 nurses from an acute care hospital completed the Weight Control/Blame Subscale of the Antifat Attitudes Test and reported on their perception of discrimination in, and available resources for, the provision of care to obese patients. Nurses endorsing stronger beliefs that weight lies under individual control were more likely to report discrimination of obese patients in clinical practice. Weight bias, higher care intensity, and lack of necessary resources were the main reasons reported for perceived weight discrimination. Our results support theories placing internal attribution of overweight and conflict over resources at the origin of weight stigma and call for appropriate interventions to improve nurses’ work environment and reduce their weight bias.